Definition of "cerate" in English

noun

1. (medicine, archaic or historical) An unctuous preparation for external application — mainly wax (or resin or spermaceti) mixed with oil, lard, and various medicinal ingredients — of a consistency between ointment and plaster, so that it can be spread upon cloth without the use of heat, but does not melt when applied to the skin.

2. (inorganic chemistry) The anion CeO₃²⁻ of cerium.